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Climate Technology Program

Innovators in developing nations are devising bold new answers to climate change. At our Climate Innovation Centers, we help clean-tech entrepreneurs launch companies, create jobs, and provide their communities with cleaner energy, water, food and air, while using fewer resources.

Ethiopia CIC (ECIC Page)

Ethiopia Climate Innovation Center (ECIC)

6 July 2013

Context

Ethiopia is highly exposed to the effects of climate change with future adaptation costs modeled at up to 10% of GDP per year. Ethiopia’s economic development requires expansion of industrial activities. Ensuring the transfer of modern and resource efficient technologies and their adaptability to Ethiopia’s context is one of the critical issues faced.

infoDev has now identified a consortium of organizations led by the Horn of Africa Regional Environment Centre (HoA-REC) to establish and manage the Ethiopia Climate Innovation Center (ECIC). The ECIC is a key component of DFID’s Strategic Climate Institutions Program (SCIP) in Ethiopia and the Government of Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) vision.

Challenges for SMEs

Limited access to R&D facilities and insufficient coordination between researchers and industry practitioners;

Unfamiliarity of Ethiopian entrepreneurs with climate technology as a business opportunity.

Limited access to flexible, early-stage risk capital;

Need for accurate market information;

Limited and lacking policy inhibits the creation and adoption of new technologies.

Implementation Plans

The ECIC will support SMEs by providing financing, access to high-end technical facilities and business advisory services provided by HoA-REC and the other ECIC consortium partners. These include the Climate Science Center at the Addis Ababa University, business advisory experts Maxwell Stamp International and resource management and environmental consulting firm MetaMeta.

Partner: Government of Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Facility. The ECIC is a central aspect of the government’s CRGE strategy that envisions a central role for the private sector in providing a low carbon and climate resilient future for Ethiopia.